System for accessorizing casual apparel

ABSTRACT

Decorative accessories for clothing items are removably supported thereon by hook-and-loop type fasteners. Cuffs are removably secured to the distal ends of legs of pants, cuffs are removably secured to the distal ends of sleeves of tops, and collars are removably secured to neck openings of tops by the hook-and-loop type fasteners. Patches, which may be associated with nations or sports teams attending sports events, with characters and attractions at theme parks, etc. are removably attached to garments utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners. Collectibles; pictures and other indicia identified with entertainers and other personalities; tickets, licenses and other items subject to inspect by authorities are removably displayed on garments utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/371,797 filed Apr. 11, 2002, currently pending, and of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/408,330 filed Sep. 5, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the accessorizing of apparel items including trousers, shirts, and the like, and more particularly to a system for removably attaching accessories to jeans, tops, and other items of casual apparel. The invention further relates to removably displaying photographs and other indicia identified with persons and other subject matters on apparel items.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trousers manufactured from denim and other materials and commonly referred to as blue jeans or simply jeans are worn throughout the world for work, play, and casual living. Although jeans intended to be worn by adults are seldom provided with decorative accessories, children's jeans are often provided with decorative cuffs, pockets, etc. which are made from materials differing in texture and color from the fabric of the jeans themselves. Similarly, tops manufactured for use by children are often provided with decorative accessories such as cuffs, collars, pockets, and/or various types of patches.

Heretofore decorative accessories for casual apparel including jeans, tops, and similar garments have been permanently attached. This practice necessitates the purchase of multiple garments in order to suit the needs of various activities and occasions.

The present invention comprises a system for accessorizing casual clothing which overcomes the foregoing and other problems. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, cuffs, pocket patches, and other accessories are removably secured to jeans and other trousers. Similarly, cuffs, patches, and collars are removably secured to tops such as t-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, jackets, other outer wear, and the like. More particularly, accessary items for trousers and tops are removably secured using hook-and-loop type fasteners.

As is well known, pins representative of the participating nations or teams are collected and exchanged among visitors to the Olympics® and other sporting events. Similarly, attendees at theme parks such as Disney World® collect and exchange pins representative of various cartoon characters, rides and other attractions, etc. The present invention further contemplates the replacement of such pins with patches which are identified with nations or teams participating in sporting events, characters and attractions at theme parks, etc. The patches are removably secured to wearing apparel utilizing hook-and-loop type fasteners.

Baseball cards and cards associated with other sporting activities, photographs and other items distributed on behalf of entertainers and other personalities at concerts and other venues, and similar items are often referred to as collectibles. The present invention further contemplates the removable display of such collectibles on clothing items. The collectible display apparatus can also be used to display tickets, licenses, and other items that are subject to inspection by designated authorities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which certain component parts have been broken away more clearly to illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative configuration of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view which diagrammatically illustrates a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of certain component parts of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an alternative configuration of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 further illustrating the alternative configuration of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view further illustrating the third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative configuration of the third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of jeans 10 is diagrammatically illustrated. Although the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in conjunction with jeans, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other types of trousers. The jeans 10 are provided with decorative cuffs 12 which are removably secured at the lower ends of the legs 14 thereof. The cuffs 12 are typically fabricated from a fabric which differs in color, texture, and/or pattern from that of the jeans 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cuffs 12 have a first component 16 of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the exterior thereof while the legs 14 of the jeans 10 have the opposite component 18 of the hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the interior thereof. In this manner the cuffs 12 that were originally supplied with the jeans 10 are easily and readily removed and replaced with cuffs comprising a different color, texture, and/or fabric.

Referring to FIG. 3, cuffs 12′ are securable to the legs 14 of the jeans 10 in lieu of the cuffs 12. The cuffs 12′ are longer than the cuffs 12, and thereby adapts the jeans 12 to continuing use by children as they grow. In some instances it may be preferable to fabricate either the cuffs 12 or the cuffs 12′ from the same fabric as that is used in the manufacture of the jeans 10 so that the cuffs 12 and/or the cuffs 12′ become an extension of the legs 14 thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, the present invention is also applicable to a wide variety of tops, including t-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, etc. Although a pullover type top 20 is illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to tops having front, back, or side openings which are normally secured in the closed condition by buttons, snaps, zippers, and similar fasteners.

The top 20 is provided with cuffs 22 which are removably secured to the ends of the sleeves 24 of the top 20. The cuffs 22 are typically fabricated from a fabric which differs in color, texture, and/or pattern from that of the top 20. As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the cuffs 22 have a first component 26 of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the interior thereof while the ends of the sleeves 24 of the top 20 are provided with the opposite component 28 of the hook-and-loop type fastener.

The top 20 is also provided with a removable collar 32 which normally extends around a neck opening 34 at the upper end of the top 20. The opening 34 has a first component 36 of a hook-and-loop type fastener extending around the exterior thereof, while the opposite component 38 of the hook-and-loop type fastener extends around the interior of the collar 32.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the top 20 may be provided with cuffs 22′ having a first component 26′ of a hook-and-loop fastener extending around the exterior thereof. The opposite component 28′ of the hook-and-loop fastener extends around the interior of the sleeve 24 to securely retain the cuff 22′ in engagement therewith.

FIG. 6 further illustrates an extension 39 which may be secured to the lower end of the top 20 in a manner similar to the connection of the cuffs 22′ to the sleeves 24 thereof, that is, by securing a first component of a hook-and-loop fastener around the exterior of the extension 39 and securing the opposite component of the hook-and-loop fastener around the interior of the top 20 at the lower end thereof. The cuffs 22′ and the extension 39 may be formed from the same material as the top 20 thereby accommodating the top 20 to the needs of growing children. Alternatively, the cuffs 22′ and the extension 39 may comprise decorative items in which case the cuffs 22′ and/or the extension 39 can be formed from fabrics which differ in color and/or texture from the fabric utilized in the manufacture of the top 20.

The jeans 10 of FIG. 1 and/or the top 20 of FIG. 3 may be provided with one or more pockets 40. If so, the pocket may be provided with a decorative covering or patch 42. A first component 46 of a hook-and-loop type fastener is secured to the interior side of the decorative covering or patch 42, while the opposite component 48 of the hook-and-loop type fastener is secured to the exterior of the pocket 40. It will be understood that the decorative covering or patch 42 can be secured directly to the top 20 utilizing the hook-and-loop type fastener and that the use of a pocket in association with the covering or patch 42 is not required.

An important feature of the invention comprises coordination of the accessorizing of the jeans or other trousers 10 of FIG. 1 with the top 20 of FIG. 2. For example, the cuffs 12 of the jeans 10 and the cuffs 22 and/or the collar 32 of the top 20 may be constructed from the same material such as an animal print, a plaid, a selected solid color, etc. Another option is the use of the same material for the decorative coverings or patches 42 used on the jeans 10 and the top 20.

Referring to FIG. 8, a garment 50 is provided with the first component 52 of a hook-and-loop type fastener. The positioning of the component 52 relative to the garment 50 as shown in FIG. 5 is illustrative only, it being understood that the component 52 may be positioned at any desired location on any type of garment. The component 52 receives a patch having the opposite component of the hook-and-loop type fastener secured thereto. The patch may be indicative of and associated with a country or team participating in a sporting event such as the Olympics, etc. The patch may also be indicative of a character or attraction at a theme park. The patch may also comprise a fanciful representation of a flower or an animal, or a representation of a real or imagined person. Other utilizations of such a patch will readily suggest themselves for those skilled in the art.

The size and shape of the component 52 of the hook-and-loop type fastener is preferably closely matched to the size and shape of the patch utilized in conjunction therewith. In such manner accidental or mischievous disengagement of the patch from the component 52 and the garment 50 is prevented.

Referring to FIG. 9, the display technique illustrated in FIG. 8 and described hereinabove in connection therewith may be utilized to display the components 56 comprising a collection 58. For example, the components 56 comprising the collection 58 may be representative of the various nations participating in the Olympics®. Alternatively, the components 56 comprising the collection 58 may be representative of the various teams participating in a multi-team sporting event. The components 56 comprising the collection 58 may also comprise photographs or other indicia representative of individual members comprising a particular athletic team, band or other musical group, etc. The components 56 comprising the collection 58 may also comprise tickets or other indicia demonstrating attendance at a series of athletic contests, concerts or other musical events, etc. The components 56 comprising the collection 58 may also comprise photographs or other indicia of family members, friends, pets, etc. which are particularly important to the owner of the group 58.

Regardless of the contents of a particular collection 58, the display technique illustrated in FIG. 8 and described hereinabove in connection therewith may be utilized to selectively display particular components 56 of the group 58 on clothing items. Alternatively, a particular garment may be provided with multiple components 52 thereby facilitating the simultaneous display of multiple components 56 of a particular collection 58 on an individual clothing item.

As will be understood, the present invention contemplates providing each component 56 of each collection 58 with a component of a hook-and-loop fastener which is opposite from but otherwise compatible with the component 52 that is secured to the garment 50 as shown in FIG. 8. By engaging the hook-and-loop component which is secured to the reverse side of the component 56 of the collection 58 with the component 52 which is secured to the garment 50 the component 56 of the collection 58 is removably secured to the garment 50 for displayed thereon.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative technique for displaying the components 56 of the selected collection 58 on a garment. A display container 60 has a transparent front surface 62 and a transparent or opaque rear surface 64. A component of a hook-and-loop type fastener is secured to the rear surface of the back layer 64. The hook-and-loop fastener component which is secured to the rear surface of the back layer 64 is opposite from but otherwise compatible with the hook-and-loop component 52 which is secured to the garment 50. Thus, by engaging the hook-and-loop fastener component which is secured to the rear surface of the back layer 64 of the display apparatus 60 with the hook-and-loop component 52 which is secured to the garment 50 the display apparatus 60 is releaseably secured on the garment 50.

A selected component 56 from a particular collection 58 is positioned between the back layer 64 and the transparent front layer 62 of the display apparatus 60 prior to or after the connection of the display apparatus 60 to the garment 50 utilizing the hook-and-loop fastener components which are secured to the display apparatus 60 and to the garment 50, respectively. The previously selected component 56 of the collection 58 may be replaced with a different component either by providing multiple display apparatus 60 each containing a particular component 56, or by simply removing one of the components 56 and by replacing it with a different component 56 comprising the collection 58.

The display apparatus 60 is also adapted for the display of items which must be available for inspection by appropriate authorities. For example, the display apparatus 60 may be utilized to receive and display tickets for sporting events, musical events, and the like. The display apparatus 60 may be utilized to receive and display airline tickets and/or boarding passes. Another advantageous use of the display apparatus 60 is the display of hunting licenses, fishing licenses and similar items indicating the right or permission to engage in particular activities.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1-17. Canceled.
 18. A system for removably securing accessories to items of wearing apparel comprising: an item of wearing apparel having a first component of a hook-and-loop type fastener secured thereto; and a decorative accessory for the item of wearing apparel having the opposite component of the hook-and-loop type fastener secured thereto whereby the decorative accessory is removably secured to the item of wearing apparel; wherein the item of wearing apparel comprises trousers having legs with the first component of the hook-and-loop fastener being secured to interior surfaces of the legs, and wherein the decorative accessory for the item of wearing apparel comprises cuffs having the second component of the hook-and-loop fastener secured to exterior surfaces thereof whereby the cuffs are removably secured to the lower ends of the legs of the trousers.
 19. A system for removably securing decorative cuffs to the distal ends of trouser legs comprising: trousers including two legs each having a distal end and an interior surface; two first components of a hook-and-loop fastener each secured to the interior surface of one of the trouser legs; a pair of decorative cuffs each having an exterior surface; two second components of the hook-and-loop fastener each secured to the exterior surface of one of the decorative cuffs; whereby the hook-and-loop fasteners secure the decorative cuffs to the distal ends of the trouser legs. 